Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-31
FROM WASHINGTON.
[SI eeial Correspondence Of the AIexa. dAzETEEI
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 81, 1887.

TlaT iuuy possibly NC oPPO'h'eS =,
cant seat on the supreme bench of the
United States. 1t is said that he is very
anxious to have it, and that experience
proves mis- inaptitude for the position he
now holds, which place requires quick and
active, as well as vigorous mind, Whlle MS
is of lust the reverse character. He knows
little or nothing about practical law, but
has a theoretical knowledge OF 1t; and as he
is sixty-six years of age and could retire in a
short time on ten thousand dollars year
for the rest of his life. the place would just
suit him, especially ~ he has sense enough
TO entertain no very lively hopes of the con-
tinuance of the present administration be.
yond the time for which it was elected, and
as Messrs. George and Walthall have pre-.
empted Mississippi's two seats in the
United States Senate. There is prevail.
ing impression, however, that Mr. L. j.
Semmes, of New Orleans, may get the place.
He is comparatively young man, ana pos
sesses in an eminent degree all the requisite
qualifications for it, including a thorough
knowledge OF, and familiar acquaintance
with the civil law, which none OF the pres
ent members has, and which they nave
now to seek from other people. Ii was Tor
merly the custom always 10 nave at iea5I
one man on :he bench familiar win the
! civil law as claims under the ola laws Vi
Louisiana and California, and the present
ones of Mexico, are constantly coming oelole
the court. recurring a knowledge of that law.
Rnt since the time when the selection of the
members of the court was first restricted TO
one section of the country, that custom has
of course been discontinued. Justice Field,
when asked TO day if it was essentially re-
ouisite and necessary that the justice 10 be
81 h. f,n 10 l'l
law. replied that it was not, for the reason
that the courts lack of knowledge in that
respect was always supplied by the counsel
| in the cases. He thus, but unwittingly,
showed plainly enough that the old custom
of having q man on the bench acquainted
with the law referred to should he revived
as soon as possible.
A prominent member Of the Jackson dem
ocratic club of this city, says the undemo.
cratic course of the present administration
has had such disheartening, if not disgust.
ing effect, upon that club, that though 1t is
of forty Years standing, its meetings now
are slimly attended, and its funds hardly
sufficient to maintain its organization.
Major Bev. Tucker, OF Virginia, has re.
Gently received fee OF thirty.live hundred
dollars. Having no immediate use for the
money, he would not object to lending it on
approved security. He says, however, that
| borrowers with such security wait IL tor all
annual interest of five per cent, but that he
can not afford to lend it at such low rate, as
he has been paying live par cent. monlh
for money nearly all his life
The papers of this city have said nothing
! about Il, but it is currently reported that
Rev. Dr. Newman, i'll his sermon last Sun
day night, said there was not marble
enough in the world TO commemorate the
deeds Of valor of the Union soldiers, nor
hell deep enough to bury those who had
striyen to destroy the Uniop," or words to
that effect, and that that sentiment was so
Objectionable to many of his hearers that
some OF them Immediately left the church.
a complaint has been received by the in
ter state commerce commission from Will
liam II. Council, q colored man, directed
against the Western and Atlantic Railroad
Company in which he AYERS that on ac'
count of his color he was iorciby elected
from first class car after having paid for q
| first class ticket. He asks that the commits.
sion award him $25 600 damages and such
other relief as it may deem proper.
The award Of prizes at the late drill here
| is the subject of good deal of comment,
aud, as is usual in all such cases, gives occa'
sion for much wagging OF cepsorlous tongues.
| Ofthe prize money distributed Sl1 900 went
to the Southern soldiers, and only 81 800 TO
those of the North and West. This fact is
! harped on in exteuso, and IL attributed by
those who think il is more than flesh aud
blood can stand to see 'rebeis' bearing oil
honors at the federal capital" TO the
"Aunkyism of the judges to Southern aris-
| tocracy. The same class Of malignants
j - ha Nv
tune played by the bands that evoked
any applause. They also say that when
the leaders of the Southern bands that came
here were examined by the proper com.
mittee concerning the music they played,
they answered they could not play the Star
Spancled Banner, Hail Columbia and Yam
kee Doodle without notes, but that all OF
them replied they could play Dixie in the
dark. But those who talk this way repre-
sent only small portion OF the cty's pop
ulation.
The plans for the proposed new hotel at
| Old Point Comfort were approved by the
War Department to-day. The new hotel
will be erected on the lot Immediately west
ofthe Hygeia Hotel, and just across the road
from the latter. The binding will cost five
hundred thousand dollars. Work will be
commenced at once, and be completed in
| time for next Springs business.
| The army officers who served as judges at
the national drill called at the War Depart
ment to day and paid their respects to
Secretary Endcott and General Sheridan
prior to returning 10 their regular stations.
Col. Black, who was president. of the board
of Judges, said to day that the drill was a
complete success from q military standpoint
and that those who managed it and those
who participated in it were entitled to great
credit.